1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
After catching a few brief glimpses of Dick in the premiere, we were more formally introduced to him midway through Episode 2 during a night out at Derry's Falcon Tavern for him and two of his airmen buddies.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
In all of them, Redford does much of his own riding, wing walking, throwing, catching, and hitting.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2011, Beverly Hills police reported catching Farzam and a woman, dressed as security personnel, trying to sneak into the Golden Globe Awards.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
After catching a few brief glimpses of Dick in the premiere, we were more formally introduced to him midway through Episode 2 during a night out at Derry's Falcon Tavern for him and two of his airmen buddies.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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For her part, BunnaB, beloved for her infectious, near-constant laughs, has separated herself from this ascendant pack by infusing her bubbly disposition, girl’s girl attitude, unfettered authenticity — and the unmistakable gravity of earning a second shot.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
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He will be sorely missed by his many, many friends who grew to love his charm, his wit, his infectious laugh and his innate sense of style.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These are especially useful for taking public transport, grabbing a quick coffee, or leaving a small tip at a restaurant.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Peterson led the way, scoring 26 points — 24 before halftime — and grabbing four rebounds.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten pushed for a model that would have each power conference receive multiple automatic bids, with the Big Ten and SEC each receiving four and the ACC and Big 12 each getting two.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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And the back part of that is that the most fun is getting to act opposite people who are incredibly good, which is true for this cast.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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Now, a passenger aircraft that can complete make the journey without stopping is in the final stages of construction, Qantas announced on Friday, releasing first images of the plane as it is assembled.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Lawrence sought out Ramsay to adapt the book after securing the rights, with the hopes that her collaborator would both push her out of comfort zones and leave the story’s rough edges intact.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
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No Man’s Land is Kuzmina’s second feature after Nika, which had a buzzy premiere at SXSW 2022 in the Narrative Feature Competition, securing Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Deputy Jaramillo’s legacy of integrity, compassion, and courage will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Imagine me at lunch or dinner breaks on that movie, sitting between the two of them—Peyton and Bradley—knowing little to nothing about football.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Growing tulips indoors in pots uses a technique called forcing—tricking the bulb and plant into blooming.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
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How to protect yourself from AI phishing scams AI phishing scams rely on tricking people into trusting what looks and sounds real.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When the eye looks symmetrical, that often means the storm is not encountering anything to weaken it.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Directed by Naohito Takahashi, the 25-episode run of Berserk takes on some of the manga’s most memorably chapters — from the introduction of its gruff, greatsword-swinging antihero Guts and his warrior comrades in the Band of the Hawk to their ultimate fate upon encountering a massive demon army.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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